The 4 Stages of Learning

The 4 Stages of Learning in Pickleball: Why Patience Matters

As you develop your pickleball skills, it’s easy to get frustrated—missed shots, slow progress, or feeling like you're just not getting it. Back in my mid-twenties as I was continuing my tennis coaching certification journey, a specific gem of information that one of my mentors introduced was the 4 Stages of Learning. Learning about the 4 stages of learning and how I could apply it to my own coaching, and also my player’s development process, was a game changer for me. And I hope it might be a game changer for you. Understanding the 4 stages of learning can help you reframe potential frustrations you may face as a player during your development journey by replacing those frustrations with patience and perspective. I hope you will find these insights helpful in your own pickleball development journey.

1. Unconsciously Incompetent

At this stage, you don’t know what you don’t know. That’s one of the reasons having a coach can be very helpful when you’re new to the game. You might be playing for fun, unaware of proper tactics, technique,or court positioning. It feels easy—until you realize there's more to the game and a lot to learn.

2. Consciously Incompetent

Now you have awareness of what you’re doing wrong or which skills you don’t yet possess. This is often the most frustrating phase. You recognize your mistakes but don’t yet have the skills to fix them consistently. It’s also the most important stage—because awareness is the first step towards being able to make improvements. 

3. Consciously Competent

You're starting to get it! Your shot selection, technical fundamentals, court positioning, and footwork are improving—but only when you're focused on them. It still takes effort, but your hard work is starting to pay off.

4. Unconsciously Competent

You’ve internalized the skills. Your shot selection, movement, and execution flow naturally. This is where true mastery lives—and it’s the reward for staying patient through the earlier stages of development.

Why This Matters

Understanding these stages can help you be more patient with yourself (and others) and help you reach your goals and perhaps surpass them. Skill development isn’t linear—and everyone moves through these stages at their own pace. You can’t skip any steps on the way to mastery. Progress comes from showing up, making mistakes, and trusting the process. Having an understanding of the learning and skill development process, will help you achieve and surpass the outcome goals you’ve set for yourself.

So next time you miss an easy shot or feel stuck, just stay patient and remind yourself: you’re just moving through the stages of learning. And that’s exactly where you’re supposed to be.